We take a look at 5 of the best small Windows 8 Tablet in 2015. A new breed of Windows 8 tablet has emerged. These small Windows 8.1 tablets are based on the x86 version of the OS instead of the cut down mobile version, RT. With the launch of Windows 10, the tablets also enjoy free upgrade to the latest OS if not already pre-loaded.
With the right amount of memory, storage and processor speed, combined with a portable Bluetooth keyboard, tablets could that doubles up as a netbooks on a platform that lets you run all your desktop applications.
These tablets are also based on the new generation Intel Atom chip, the Bay Trail Atom. With it’s quad-core and Turbo Boost technology, it provides laptop and desktop like performance. Clocking at 1.33GHz with burst frequency up to 1.86GHz, the chip has 2MB cache onboard and support for 64-bit instructions. Based on the 22nm, its lower power consumption at 2W meant better battery life.
NOTE: The Atom range is also used on server class machines as it also supports Intel Virtualisation Technology (VT-X) and Intel 64 (Intel’s 64-bit architecture).
Let’s take a comparative look at the different 8-inch tablets.
Top 5 Best Small Windows Tablets
Surprisingly, the best 8-inch Windows 8 tablets are also among the most affordable.
- HP Stream 8 Tablet with 4G – 4G ENABLED
- Lenovo Yoga 2 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet – BEST BATTERY LIFE, DOUBLE MEMORY, FULL HD
- Lenovo Miix 3 8 Windows 7.85-inch Tablet – DOUBLE MEMORY
- Toshiba Encore 2 WT8-B-102 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet
- ASUS VivoTab 8 M81C 8-Inch Windows Tablet – DOUBLE MEMORY
Five More:
- Linx 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet [Linx 810]
- VOYO A1 Mini 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet – DOUBLE MEMORY
- Lenovo Miix 2 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet – HIGHER RESOLUTION CAMERAS, DOUBLE MEMORY
- Acer Iconia Tab 8 W W1-810 8-inch Tablet
- Dell Venue 8 Pro 3000 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet
What Else Is Out There
- Lenovo Miix 8 Windows Tablet
- Asus VivoTab 8 M80TA Windows Tablet
- Dell Venue 8 Pro Windows Tablet
- Toshiba Encore 8 Windows Tablet
- Acer Iconia Tab W4-820 8.1-inch Tablet
A Closer Look
Let’s take a closer look at each of the tablets.
HP Stream 8 Tablet with 4G enabled
The only 4G enabled Windows tablet on our list with lifetime 4G data plan included in the states with up to 200MB of data free ex-contract.
- Intel Atom Z3735G Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.58GHz)
- 1GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot supports up to 64GB
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS TFT display
- 5MP Rear Full HD 1080p camera and 2MP Front Full HD 1080p camera
- Battery Life: 8 Hours 20 Mins 4000mAh Lithium-ion battery
- WLAN, Bluetooth, micro USB, 1 micro SIM card slot, Accelerometer, GPS, SAR
- Windows 8.1 and 1Yr Office 365 Personal subscription
Lenovo Yoga 2 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet
Lenovo is bringing its multi-mode Yoga tablet format to Windows. With more ways to enjoy your Windows tablet, one additional mode to be precise. You can now Hold, Tilt, Stand and HANG. Yes, HANG your tablet. We seen the Lenovo Yoga Android tablet lasting up to 18 hours use between charge and the Lenovo Yoga 2 Windows tablet is just as good at 15 hours making it the best battery life on all 8-inch Windows tablets. The front facing, large chamber stereo speakers uses Wolfson Master HiFi audio processing and Dolby surround sound. And that is not all, we left the best part for last. The Lenovo Yoga 2 8-inch comes with a Full HD screen, packing 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, another highest in the line-up. This has to be the best Windows 8-inch tablet to date.
- Intel Atom Z3745 Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.86GHz)
- 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot supports up to 32GB – DOUBLE MEMORY
- 8-inch 1920 x 1200 Full HD IPS TFT display – BEST SCREEN RESOLUTION
- 8MP Rear camera with f2.2 wide-aperture lense, advanced glare-reducing glass and BSI 2 sensor and 1.6MP Front Cameras – BEST REAR FACING CAMERAS
- Battery Life: 15 Hours Lithium-ion battery – BEST BATTERY LIFE
- WLAN Dual Band MiMo, Bluetooth, micro HDMI, micro USB
- Windows 8.1 and 1Yr MS Office 365 subscription
Lenovo Miix 3 8 Windows 7.85-inch Tablet
Now in its third generation, the Miix 3 spots a 7.85-inch screen, slightly smaller than 8-inch and therefore runs at a slightly lower resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. Similar to the first generation iPad mini’s screen resolution, this makes browse the web easier. Unlike other screens in our line-up with a pixel resolution of 1280 x 800, which are between for watching movies and TV shows. In the looks department, the Miix 3 with its lightweight aluminium body and ebody black finish gives it a premium feel. At 375 grams, it is one of the lightest 8-inch tablet in the market. However, the battery life of up to 5 hours is a tad disappointing.
- Intel Atom Z3735F Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.83GHz)
- 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot (up to 32GB) – DOUBLE MEMORY
- 7.85-inch 1024 x 768 XGA display with IPS technology
- 2MP Front and 2MP Rear Cameras
- Battery Life: up to 5 Hours Lithium-ion battery
- WLAN, Bluetooth, mini HDMI, micro USB with OTG
- Dimensions: H200.3 x W136.9 x D9.2 mm, 375 grams
- Windows 8.1 and 1Yr MS Office 365 subscription (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote, Outlook and Publisher on the go)
Toshiba Encore 2 WT8-B-102 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet
Great screen, sounds good too with Dolby Digital Plus surround stereo speakers, 5MP rear facing camera that is capable of capturing Full HD videos at 24 frames per second. The micro SD support up to 128GB or extra storage.
- Intel Atom Z3735G Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.58GHz)
- 1GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot supports up to 128GB
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS TFT display
- 5MP Rear with Full HD 1080 video capture (24fps) and auto-focus and 1.2MP Front Cameras – BETTER REAR FACING CAMERA
- Battery Life: 8.5 Hours Lithium-ion battery
- WLAN, Bluetooth, micro HDMI, micro USB
- Dimensions W x D x H and Weight: 210.62 x 132 x 9.48 mm, 385 grams
- Windows 8.1 and 1Yr Office 365 Personal subscription (includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook)
ASUS VivoTab 8 M81C 8-Inch Windows Tablet
Here is a welcome replacement from Asus, the VivoTab 8 M81C is a newer, slimmer and narrower 8-inch Tablet compared to their earlier model, the Asus VivoTab 8 M80TA. While the earlier version had a lukewarm response from buyers, the new VivoTab 8 has the opposite effect. If you want a reliable design and good build quality, the new VivoTab 8 is your answer.
The narrow bezel on the long sides is reminisce of the newer 8-inch Android tablets. This has become the standard for newer 8-inch Windows tablets and you can see this in our line-up from the low cost Linx 8 and Voyo 8 to the mid range Stream 8, Lenovo Miix2 8 and of course the new Asus VivoTab 8 M81C.
- Intel Atom Z3745 Quad-Core 1.33GHz Processor 64-bit (Turbo Boost up to 1.86GHz)
- 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage and MicroSD slot for up to 64GB expansion – DOUBLE MEMORY
- 8-inch LED Backlight WXGA 1280 x 800 pixels IPS HD display
- Battery Life: 8 Hours 15.2Wh Li-polymer Battery
- 5MP Rear/1.2MP Front facing camera – BETTER REAR FACING CAMERA
- Ultrafast connectivity with 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4G/5G), dual band, Bluetooth 4.0, Miracast, MicroUSB, G-sensor, Gyro sensor, E-compass, Hall sensor, GPS and GLONASS
- Dimensions & Weight: 330g
- Colour Options: Purple, White, Gold, Black
- Windows 8.1 and 1Yr Office 365 Personal subscription (includes touch enhanced Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote)
Five More 8-inch Windows Tablets To Consider
Linx 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet [Linx 810] – WINDOWS 10 PRE-LOADED
The Linx is great value for money. If the specs haven’t convinced you, the manufacturer have thrown in a year’s subscription of Office 365 Personal. Built quality is decent and doesn’t feel cheap. It’s small, lightweight and performs as it should.
- Intel Atom Z3735G Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.58GHz)
- 1GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot supports up to 64GB
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS TFT display
- 2MP Rear and 2MP Front Cameras
- Battery Life: 7 Hours 4000mAh Lithium-ion battery
- WLAN, Bluetooth, mini HDMI, micro USB
- Windows 8.1 and 1Yr Office 365 Personal subscription
Since the launch of Windows 10, the Linx 8 is now available with Windows 10 pre-loaded and sold as Linx 810. Enjoy all the new features on Window 10 including Cortana (the personal digital assistance), Continuum (for smooth transition between tablet and desktop interface), Edge (the new Internet browser), Office Mobile Apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote), OneDrive (15GB online storage) and access to Windows 10 Store.
VOYO A1 Mini 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet
If you have to decide on an ultra low budget and super affordable unit, between the Linx and the Voyo, we would recommend the Voyo. It comes with double the memory compared to the Linx and has a CPU with higher turbo clock speed. The battery life is also better compared to the Linx. While the built quality isn’t not notch, it is sufficient. The case and the screen is plastic instead of alloy or glass but you can’t ask too much considering how little you pay. The Windows 8 license alone would set you back more than a hundred. It is available in Gray, Blue or Yellow, with cues from Apple’s iPhone C.
- Intel Atom Z3735F Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.83GHz)
- 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot – DOUBLE MEMORY
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS TFT display
- 2MP Rear and 2MP Front Cameras
- Battery Life: 8-10 Hours 5000mAh Lithium-ion battery
- WLAN, Bluetooth, mini HDMI, micro USB with OTG
- Windows 8.1
Lenovo Miix 2 8-inch Windows 8.1 Tablet [Lenovo Miix 3 8-inch]
The Lenovo Miix 2 is the successor to Lenovo Miix also featured here. It includes VeriFace, a facial recognition software that lets you log on to your tablet without complicated password or on-screen key taps. Program the software with an image of your face captured with the integrated webcam and use this to verify you as the user.
- Intel Atom Z3740 Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.86GHz)
- 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot supports up to 64GB – DOUBLE MEMORY
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS TFT display
- 8MP Rear and 2MP Front Cameras – BEST CAMERAS
- Battery Life: 7 Hours Lithium-ion battery
- WLAN, Bluetooth, micro USB
- Windows 8.1
NOTE: The Lenovo Miix 2 is end of Line. While stocks last. See replacement: Lenovo Miix 3 8-inch Tablet
Acer Iconia Tab 8 W W1-810 8-inch Tablet
Sleek new addition to the aging Iconia W4, also featured at the bottom of this list. The Iconia Tab 8 W is lighter, thinner and faster than the Iconia W4 but has only half the memory at 1GB RAM.
- Intel Atom Z3735G Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz (Turbo Boost to 1.86GHz)
- 1GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot supports up to 32GB
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 LED TFT display
- 5MP Rear auto-focus capable of 60fps and 2MP Front Cameras
- Battery Life: 8 Hours Lithium Polymer battery 4600mAh
- WLAN, Bluetooth, micro HDMI, micro USB, headphone and microphone combo
- Dimensions and Weight: 214mm x 128mm x 9.8mm, 370 grams
- Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 Edition Trial (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Dell Venue 8 Pro 3000
For dependable build quality and support, the Dell Venue 8 Pro 3000 is your choice. The slimmer but not the slimmest side bezel and the 5MP rear camera is appealing. Miracast makes up for lack of micro HDMI port for connecting to a big screen.
- Intel Atom Z3735G Processor Quad-Core, 2MB Cache, up to 1.83GHz
- 1GB RAM, 32GB Storage, MicroSD Card Slot supports up to 128GB
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 (WXGA) IPS display
- 5MP rear camera, 1.2MP front camera
- Battery Life: 8 Hours
- Dimensions: Length: 8.51″ (216.2mm) x Width: 5.11″ (130mm) x Thickness: 0.35″ (9.0mm), Weight: 88lbs (391g)
- WLAN with Miracast, Bluetooth, micro USB, headphone and microphone combo
- Windows 8.1 with Bing and Office 365 Personal 1 Year Subscription.
What Else Is Out There
- Lenovo Miix 8 Windows Tablet
- Asus VivoTab 8 M80TA Windows Tablet
- Dell Venue 8 Pro Windows Tablet
- Toshiba Encore 8 Windows Tablet
- Acer Iconia 8 Windows Tablet
Lenovo Miix 8 Windows Tablet – 32GB
The Lenovo Miix 2 is a great value, affordable tablet offering with good battery life and features. Comes preloaded with MS Office 2013 Home and Student edition, you get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote from the word go.
With Miix 2 8-inch tablet, you get a full Windows experience in one of thinnest and lightest package in the market. Lenovo’s hardware and software combination brings together what it calls the Lenovo Enhanced Experience 8, an experience created specifically around Windows 8.1. This includes Lenovo Cloud with 5GB free storage, Lenovo content (which includes Lenovo Companion & Lenovo Support) and finally Lenovo Energy Management 7.0 with 3 power management modes to suit your requirement.
A neat feature worth mentioning is VeriFace Pro, a facial recognition technology that lets users login by matching features to their face using the front-facing camera.
Its bigger siblings comes with better connectivity (keyboard dock and HDMI output)
- Intel Bay Trail Atom Z3740 Quad Core Processor 1.33GHz Turbo Boost to 1.86GHz
- 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD card slot for extra storage up to 128GB – DOUBLE MEMORY
- 2MP front, 5MP rear cameras
- Battery life: up to 8.5 hours AVERAGE BATTERY LIFE
- Thinness: 8.35 mm SLIMMEST
- Display size: 8″ HD display 1280 x 800 resolution
- Dimensions: H215.6 x W131.6 x D8.35 mm, 350 grams LIGHTEST
- BlT 4.0, microUSB, WiFi 802.11 bgn
- Windows 8.1 (32bit) and MS Office 2013
Asus VivoTab Note 8 Touchscreen Tablet – 64GB
The only tablet that includes a Wacom Digitizer pen. Tired of trying to scribble with your finger. While navigating the tablet with your fingers are alright, writing on the screen may not be so straight forward. Using Wacom’s digitzer, the Asus VivoTab has the advantage of letting you use a pen instead. Allowing you to write naturally on the screen and take advantage of hand writing recognition and input.
- 8-inch HD touchscreen IPS LED-backlit WXGA (800 x 1280), 5-finger multi-touch support
- Intel Atom Z3740 1.33 GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 1.86 GHz
- 2GB memory 1600 MHz LPDDR3 /64GB eMMC Storage (32GB also available)
- Up to 8 hours battery life AVERAGE BATTERY LIFE
- 5MP rear/1.2MP front facing camera
- Micro SD card slot (SD/SDHC/SDXC) supports up to 128GB
- Dimensions and Weight: 220.98 x 132.08 x 10.16 mm, 380g
- Windows 8.1 and Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013
DELL Venue 8 Pro – 32GB
As you would expect from Dell, this is a no nonsense, professional tablet with reliable hardware and built quality. The only thing against it is the lack of micro-HDMI which in our books is important if this were to double up as a desktop replacement but an optional Docking Station for Dell Venue will solve that problem. Just don’t expect to turn up for a presentation looking to connect your tablet to the big screen. What is not immediately obvious is the use of a Stylus as a form of interface. Dell Active Stylus for Venue Pro is available to purchase separately suitable for input, graphic and content creation.
- Intel Atom Z3740 Quad Core Processor Z3740D up to 1.86GHz (Turbo Boost)
- 2GB RAM, 32GB storage, SD slot expansion for up to 64GB
- 1.2MP front, 5MP rear facing cameras
- Battery life: up to 10 hours (4,830 mAh) [GOOD BATTERY LIFE]
- Thinness: 8.9 mm
- Display size: 8″ 1280 x 800 WXGA resolution with 10 points capacitive touch
- Dimensions & Weight: 0.35 by 5.25 by 8.5 inches 215.9 x 130 x 8.9 mm, 388 grams
- BT 4.0, microUSB, WiFi 802.11 abgn dual band, headphone and microphone combo jack, microUSB 2.0
- Windows 8.1 (32bit) and MS Office 2013
Toshiba Encore 8-inch – 32GB
Similar to the Toshiba Chromebook in our previous review, the back plate of Toshiba Encore features an anti-slip design to stop the tablet from slipping and for added grip. The silver back plate may not look the part of a premium tablet but it is finger print free and easy to handle hence more practical.
- Intel Atom Z3740 1.33GHz Turbo Boost to 1.86GHz
- 32GB Storage (64GB also available), SD slot expansion for up to 64GB
- 2MP front facing, 8MP rear facing cameras HIGHER RESOLUTION REAR FACING CAMERA
- Thinness: 10.7 mm
- Batttery Life: Up to 7 hours
- Dimensions and Weight: 10.68 x 213 x 135.9 mm, 455 grams HEAVIEST
- Display size: 8″ 1280 x 800
- BT 4.0, microUSB, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, headphone and microphone jack combo, micro HDMI
- Windows 8.1 with MS Office 2013
Acer Iconia W4-820 – Windows Tablet
Not too hot about the chunky accent at the bottom of the screen and the big side bezels but it does come with 2GB of memory and good resolution cameras. Multi-user tablet that lets you access your personal settings and apps. Also comes pre-loaded with MS Office which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
Acer has also done away with the gap between the touch panel and LCD screen, a feature more and more manufacturers are adopting. It uses Zero-air-gap direct bonding in the construction of the screen to eliminate unwanted light reflections to produce sharp images.
5MP rear facing camera capable of capturing video at 60 fps. 2MP front facing camera capable of HD video conferencing. For presentation, simply connect the Acer Iconia W4 to a larger screen or projector via HDMI 2.0 or MiraCast wireless screencast.
- Intel Bay Trail Atom Z3740 Processor Quad-Core 1.33GHz Turbo Boost 1.86GHz
- 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage (64GB optiona available), microSD card slot for extra storage up to 32GB – DOUBLE MEMORY
- 8-inch 1280 x 800 IPS TFT display
- 2MP front, 5MP rear facing cameras auto-focus capable of 60fps
- Battery life: up to 8 hours
- Thinness: 10.75 mm
- Dimensions: Weight: 23.6 x 14.4 x 1.08 cm, 431 grams
- BT 4.0, microUSB, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, headphone and microphone jack combo, micro HDMI 2.0
- Windows 8.1 (32bit) and MS Office 2013
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| Updated on July 6, 2023
In the fast paced, busy today’s world, portability is at a premium. But that portability can’t come at the expense of productivity! Windows tablets are becoming more popular than ever, and there’s a good chance you’re looking to purchase one if you clicked on this article.
That’s where our guide of the Top Five 8 Inch Windows Tablets comes in. Here, you will find five machines that are perfectly suited for the busy world we live in today.
March 24, 2022 Update: Unfortunately, 8 Inch Windows tablets are no longer being made. And these below are the only ones that are still available for purchase (although they might be gone soon too).
The market was crowded with a lot of fantastic machines this year, but the Lenovo Tab M8 had many features that similarly priced products just couldn’t compete with.
The other four tablets on this list are nearly as good, though, so you should read through all of them before making a decision.
Quick Summary:
Here is a quick summary of the top performing 8 inch windows tablets for people that want to check them out and see customers reviews and prices. These winners are based on my personal criteria and personal testing. I tested the highest reviewed 8 inch windows tablet and these are the winners.
Best Overall.. By FAR: 8 Inch Windows Tablet
You can check out the 8 Inch Windows Tablet on amazon by clicking here.
Best Not Windows: Samsung Galaxy 32GB
You can check out the Samsung Galaxy on amazon by clicking here.
How we chose the Best 8 inch Tablet for Windows
To decide exactly which 8 inch tablet was the best, we looked at all the different machines that have been released in the last year. Some of the computers were great, some were not so great, but all of them had both positive and negative features.
We didn’t base our decision on how cheap each tablet was. If you’re on a budget, you might want to check out our article on the best tablets under $200. Instead, we focused on the performance of these tiny tablet computers.
The following features, sorted in descending order of importance, stood out to us as important criteria when we were making our final decision. All five of these features are vital for anyone in search of a good miniature tablet.
- Screen quality
- Battery life
- Processing power
- Portability
- Versatility
We determined this final list by looking at these features and judging how these products stood up to our scrutiny. These five tablets really excelled when we looked at them.
The Five Best 8 Inch Windows Tablets
Here’s a list of the five best tablets for windows:
The most important consideration when choosing the best 8 inch Windows tablet
We feel that the most important thing to consider when in the market for a miniature tablet is the quality of its screen.
Of course, the quality of a tablet’s screen is always incredibly important, but when you sacrifice surface area in order to maximize portability, the screen that you do have has to be fantastic.
It is important to consider the wants and needs of consumers when deciding how heavily to weigh individual features for products. Overwhelmingly, we found that people cared the most about how good their tablet’s screen was.
There’s nothing worse than trying to get important work done on a small, poor quality screen. Resolution, brightness, and quality of color are vital considerations to make when deciding which tablet to buy.
The technology inside mobile screens is rapidly advancing. AMOLED screens are replacing LED screens as the premier technology. It is definitely worth spending a little extra money to get a better screen, especially for a tablet with a small screen size.
In the end, you spend all your time looking at the screen, so it makes sense to prioritize the quality of it above all other considerations. We think that you’ll agree once you get your hands on a tablet with a truly high quality screen.
Other considerations when choosing the best 8 inch Windows tablet
Battery life
The most essential feature of a tablet is the fact that you can work on it anywhere. If it didn’t have that feature, it would be called a desktop!
Unfortunately, poor battery life is the bane of many tablets’ existence.
When a tablet doesn’t have enough battery life to last throughout your day, its value is drastically reduced.
It doesn’t matter how well it’s made, how much power it is, or how productive you can be while using it–if it can’t turn on, it’s useless!
If you find yourself working on your tablet away from your home or office frequently, a good battery life is definitely something you should consider.
Processing power
A tablet with high processing power makes everything you do on it run more smoothly. The mini machines are running full versions of Windows, so without a robust processor, your work will quickly become bogged down and you’ll be wishing you had more power.
Running multiple tabs on your web browser, multitasking like a pro, and being able to run complicated applications are all tasks that you can do if you have a tablet with adequate processing power.
We made sure to consider this when choosing the best Windows tablets.
Portability
The fundamental definition of a good tablet computer requires it to be a reasonable replacement for a desktop or laptop, but portable. You can use tablets on the subway, in waiting rooms, or while lounging on your couch and not have to sacrifice productivity.
The best tablets will be extremely portable and have excellent features to facilitate portability. Things like detachable keyboards, styli, and others improve the function of tablets without sacrificing portability, so we gave extra points for those features.
Versatility
Along the same line as portability, versatility is important when considering these purely mobile machines.
Modern personal computers are like our offices, and they have to be able to accomplish a wide variety of tasks. A tablet is only as good as its weakest link (that’s the expression, right?), so it is essential that these products are able to tackle all kinds of common computing tasks.
Word processing, web browsing, basic photo editing, and other common features were all considered when we made our list.
The Best 8 inch Windows Tablets
Lenovo Tab M8 – #1 Choice out of 8″ Windows Tablets
Our pick for best 8 inch Windows tablet is the Lenovo Tab M8. Don’t get us wrong–every tablet on this list is an outstanding machine and is well worth the money. But when we considered our judging criteria, none of them could match the M8.
First, we looked at the screen quality.
As we discussed earlier, there is nothing that can earn you more points with us than a great, high quality screen.
And boy, does this miniature Lenovo tablet have one of those.
The resolution on this screen is outstanding, and at full 1080p HD all of your apps will look great.
The screen itself has a coating, which keeps finger smudges to a minimum, which is always a great feature. The back lighting is super bright, as well.
Perhaps our favorite part of the screen is its color calibration.
The blacks are dark, the whites are really light, and the colors in between pop as if they were on a rainbow. You’ll definitely notice a difference if you’re coming from a different machine–the Lenovo Tab M8 does color really well.
This tablet also excels when it comes to battery life. You would expect that a tablet this small may have made sacrifices when it came to the battery, but the M8 boasts up to 15 hours battery life.
That is more than enough time to last through your work or school day and then some. It’s also way better than similar tablets this size.
The processing power in this machine won’t blow you away, but it more than gets the job done for an 8 inch tablet.
With an Intel Atom Z3745 and 2GB of DDR3 RAM, it has more than enough under the hood to get the job done, whatever that job may be.
This product is also incredible portable, as you would expect an 8 inch tablet to be. It comes with a stylus pen (as we discuss below) that is small but effective, adding extra functionality without sacrificing portability.
It is also incredibly versatile, especially when you consider the stylus pen it ships with. Drawing with the “Anypen” as Lenovo calls it is a breeze and can make certain tasks even easier than they already are on a tablet, if that’s possible.
All in all, Lenovo put together a real winner this year when they released the Lenovo Tab M8. No other mini tablet released this year was able to pack as many features into such a small package, and we sure are glad Lenovo was up to the task.
Sale
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Samsung Galaxy 32GB Black – Our Winner Overall
Check Price on Amazon
Rather than go into the details and tech specs (find these on amazon here) I will just give you my experience using this tablet and how it worked for me when I put it to the test.
I used this tablet for about a week straight. I used it for computing intensive task like
- small video editing
- accessing and editing documents in google drive
- taking notes
- watching movies and streaming
- playing app store games
- and normal browsing online
This tablet outperformed all of the other tablets in quite a few areas by a considerable margin. The load times and time it took to switch from one task to another was almost instantaneous when compared with the other 8 inch tablets that I tested.
Another thing I really liked about this tablet is that the screen was on par with some of the best high dollar larger screen tablets. The screen and display is absolutely perfect, especially considering the price you pay for this one, which brings me to another point.
This tablet does not cost you an arm and a leg, it’s cheaper than most and you get an insane value for your money.
I highly suggest buying this tablet and never looking back. Do give the others a look, but this is the tablet that I recommend.
Sale
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The Nextbook Flexx 9 was a very close second. Like the Yoga 2, this tablet was astoundingly able to pack a ton of functionality and features into a very small package, and you can’t go wrong purchasing it.
The screen is great, boasting a high-resolution 1280 x 800 IPS display, as well as great backlighting, color calibration, and smudge protection.
You’ll definitely be able to tell that you’re using a high quality tablet when you see this one.
Nextbook’s mini tablet contains an Intel Atom Quad-Core Z3745 with 2GB of RAM, just like the Yoga 2.
It has more than enough processing might to tackle your daily tasks.
The Flexx’s battery life leaves something to be desired, as it only lasts around 6 hours. If you use your tab away from home a lot, it may not be for you. But It is extremely portable and has a lot of versatility, and its detachable keyboard is one of the best out there.
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Perhaps the best value tablet on this list is the NuVision IPS. You’ll be able to pick it up for significantly less than other tablets this size, and it still offers an array of great features that are important for any tablet to have.
The screen is great, boasting a 1920 x 1200 full HD display.
It has a Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor and Intel HD graphics, complete with 2GB of RAM.
This little tablet can do the job and will look fantastic while doing it.
The portability may be an issue, as it isn’t made of the most hardy material, and the cheap plastic will feel especially cheap next to the higher quality material of some of the other tablets on this list.
The battery is also slightly disappointing, clocking in with only a 6 hour lifespan.
Dell Venue 8 Pro
On the other end of the spectrum, the Dell Venue 8 Pro is going to set you back a good bit of money–but it is very worth it.
The Venue 8 Pro has a good screen, although with a resolution of only 1280 x 800, it’s perhaps not as impressive as others’.
It contains a good processor and 2GB of RAM.
Where this tablet really shines is its portability–it is made of great, high quality plastic that feels durable and will last for a long time.
The battery is average, with a 8 hour life. But overall, Dell consistently puts out high quality tablets, and the Venue 8 Pro is no exception.
Toshiba Encore
Toshiba’s Encore 2 mini tablet is a fantastic machine and would be a great purchase. It has a decent screen resolution, but a fantastic brightness factor and really true color calibration.
The processor in the Encore 2 isn’t quite as strong as the other tablets on this list, so this may be a tablet more suited for casual use.
But it is incredibly portable, high quality, and has a better battery than similar tablets.
Unfortunately, it’s specs are a little dated compared to some other products currently on the market.
The bottom line
We know how important tablet computers are becoming in today’s world, so we made sure to scrutinize the latest releases of 8 inch windows tablets closely.
Offering a more portable package without sacrificing the productivity is at the heart of these tiny tablets, and the five products on this list are all great purchases.
Overall, though, the 8 Inch Windows Tablet stood out among its peers. An outstanding battery life, build, processor, and screen really put it in a league all of its own. If you get a chance to try one out, we think you’ll agree.
No products found.
After months on the market, Windows 8 tablets have yet to rack up the sales Microsoft and PC vendors were originally hoping for. But on Monday Taiwanese PC maker Acer showed off what could be the first of many Windows 8 tablets to come in smaller screen sizes, following the success of Apple’s iPad mini and Google’s Nexus 7.
Acer’s Iconia W3 claims to be the first Windows 8 tablet built with an 8.1-inch screen, and is small enough that it can be gripped in one hand. The new product was unveiled a day before the Computex trade show in Taipei, and the company made it available for hands-on use by reporters.
Michael Kan
Prices for the product will range between $400 and $500, according to Acer, making it more expensive than similarly sized tablets running Android or iOS. But in developing the tablet, Acer wanted to bring the power of a desktop PC to a handheld device, according to company president Jim Wong.
Not only does it boast Windows 8, enabling people to run legacy Windows software, but also the Home & Student 2013 edition of Microsoft Office. In addition, the tablet uses an Intel Atom Z2760 chip, code-named Clover Trail, that features a dual-core processor with a 1.8 GHz clock speed.
Michael Kan
Despite its small screen, the Iconia W3 weighs at 540 grams, (1.1 pounds), making it over 200 grams heavier than the iPad mini and Nexus 7. The Iconia W3 also has less of a premium feel and is made of plastic, with a white rim in the front and a hard silver backing covering the rear. The tablet, however, still felt light enough in the hand, and applications ran smoothly, with lag only noticeable on certain apps, such as Amazon and Acer’s own embedded cloud storage, which were slow to load.
The screen has 1280 by 800 resolution, but the pixels across it can appear noticeable up close. The Iconia W3 also features a camera on the rear and one in front. Shots taken with the camera, however, were somewhat grainy.
Michael Kan
To boost the tablet users’ productivity, Acer has designed a special keyboard that connects to the tablet via Bluetooth. Unlike some other attachable keyboards, the one fitted for the Iconia W3 is actually larger than the tablet itself, and similar to those used on 13.3-inch laptops.
At the top of the keyboard is a long groove, where the tablet can sit. Once the tablet is removed, the keyboard will automatically power down. Acer also designed the keyboard so that it would be easy to carry, with the Iconia W3 in tow. Under the keyboard is a large hollow space where the tablet can be snapped in and tucked under.
Acer has yet to determine pricing for the keyboard. But it could come bundled with the Iconia W3 in certain markets, for a higher price.
The tablet will come in two versions, one with 32GB of storage, the other with 64GB. It has a microSD slot for additional storage, along with a micro-HDMI port, and a micro-USB port. Acer claims the device’s battery will last up to 8 hours.
Laptop Mag Verdict
The ASUS VivoTab Note 8 stands out in the 8-inch Windows 8 tablet crowd with its built-in stylus. But awkward button placement holds it back.
Pros
- +
Good stylus performance
- +
Useful included-software
- +
Quality speakers
Cons
- —
Poor button location
- —
Heftier than competing slates
- —
Below-average battery life
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Adding to the growing lineup of 8-inch Windows 8 tablets that offer productivity in a portable package is ASUS’ VivoTab Note 8. This small slate distinguishes itself from others with its built-in Wacom stylus, but at $329, it’s more expensive than the competition. Is this addition worth the premium?
Design
The words clean, unassuming and professional jump to mind when you look at the ASUS VivoTab Note 8. The all-black tablet is smooth to the touch with a matte plastic back and a glossy face. Unfortunately, both the front and back of the slate are smudge and fingerprint prone.
An inch-wide black bezel frames the VivoTab’s 8.0-inch display, with a silver ASUS logo below the screen and a 1.2-megapixel camera above it. Adorning the back of the slate is an ASUS logo, which sits below a 5-megapixel camera. At the bottom, lie the device’s SonicMaster stereo speakers.
Click to EnlargeA small groove on the bottom left corner of the tablet lets you pry out the Wacom Digitizer stylus with relative ease. However, this accessory is hidden so well along the bottom edge that we almost missed it.
The left side of the VivoTab houses a microSD card reader and a Windows button that is placed in a not very intuitive location. We’ve seen this same awkward button placement on other 8-inch Windows 8 slates, such as the Dell Venue 8 Pro (top right edge), while the Iconia W4 doesn’t even offer a dedicated Windows button. We prefer the Lenovo Miix 2’s layout, with the Windows button sitting below the display.
Click to EnlargeAt the top of the VivoTab, are a microUSB port and an audio combo jack, while a power button and volume rocker line the tablet’s right side. The buttons are a little stiff and hard to press.
The VivoTab is the largest and almost the heaviest 8-inch Windows 8 tablet on the market, at 8.7 x 5.3 x 0.43 inches and 13.85 ounces. The Lenovo Miix 2 (8.5 x 5.2 x 0.33 inches, 12.2 ounces) and the Dell Venue 8 Pro (8.5 x 5.11 x 0.35 inches, 13.6 ounces) are both lighter and thinner. Acer’s Iconia W4 (8.6 x 5.3 x 0.38-0.42 inches, 14.6 ounces) cuts a slightly smaller silhouette, but is heavier.
Stylus Experience
Click to EnlargeASUS’ VivoTab Note 8 costs more than the competition because of the included Wacom digitizer. So is it worth it? Boasting 1,024 pressure-sensitivity levels (compared to the 256 or fewer on competing styli), Wacom’s pen lets you draw thinner or thicker lines based on how much pressure you apply. Lighter strokes result in thinner lines, while more pressure creates broader strokes. The extra sensitivity-levels create a greater differentiation between those sizes.
Sadly, the only app optimized for the stylus that comes with the VivoTab is Microsoft’s OneNote. Strokes were smooth, and the stylus was responsive; we easily autographed the tablet as if writing on paper. You’ll find dozens of stylus-centric titles in the Windows Store, including FreshPaint, VirtualTablet, Sketchable, Notable and CyberLink YouNote.
Palm rejection is enabled when the pen is detected. During our testing, this technology worked well most of the time. You can also hover over tiles on your Start screen to get a tip about the app. In pen-optimized apps such as OneNote, hovering will also trigger animations and contextual labels.
Click to EnlargeA button on the stylus triggers a small, half-inch-wide circle around the cursor. In OneNote, holding this button lets you draw a dotted line around parts of your sketch to select a region, which you can then edit by moving it around, copying and pasting, deleting it, or tagging it with a property. Overall, we prefer Samsung’s S Pen for the Galaxy tablets, which provides more functionality.
Display
Click to EnlargeImage quality on the VivoTab Note 8’s 1280 x 800p IPS, 10-point touch display was vivid but somewhat blurry. In a 1080p trailer for «Maleficent,» colors such as the red of Angelina Jolie’s luscious lips were vibrant against her alabaster skin, but details such as glowing pixies flying around a little girl were muddy. Words and graphics on such websites as NYtimes.com and Laptopmag.com were crisp, though, and viewing angles were ample, though colors washed out slightly at extreme angles.
The Note 8 could display just 76.6 percent of the sRGB color gamut, which falls below the tablet average of 83 percent, and also trails the Lenovo ThinkPad 8 (84 percent) and the Acer W4 (80 percent). The Note 8’s Delta-E rating of 8.5 means its display renders colors less accurately than both the average tablet and the W4 (each rated 6).
Measuring 367 lux on our light meter, the VivoTab outshined the average tablet (362 lux) and the Iconia W4 (343 lux). However, the Venue 8 Pro was brighter (377 lux), and the luminous Miix 2 was in its own league (534 lux).
Audio
We enjoyed the booming audio that filtered through the VivoTab’s rear-mounted SonicMaster speaker. Robyn Hurder’s voice rang clearly against the distinct drums and brass instruments in «We Go Together» from the musical «Grease,» easily filling a small living room. At max volume, notes became somewhat canned, but below 90 percent volume, the music was solid.
Other than SonicMaster enhancements that are built into the speakers, ASUS doesn’t offer any software to let you tweak your tablet’s sound output.
Notching 74 dB on Laptop Mag’s audio test, which involves playing a tone on max and measuring it from 13 inches, the VivoTab Note 8 beat the 72-dB Miix 2 but was softer than the average tablet (79 dB), the Iconia W4 (78 dB) and the Venue 8 Pro (88 dB).
Software and User Interface
The VivoTab Note 8 runs Windows 8.1, the latest iteration of Microsoft’s operating system. Improvements include the ability to close Modern apps with a single click, a persistent taskbar in desktop mode, more lock-screen options, and Bing Smart Search that includes both Web and local results.
MORE: Windows 8.1 Update: Full Review
You can configure the lock screen to display a slideshow of your favorite pictures and launch the camera with a swipe down. Notifications from specified apps also appear on the lock page, and you can also answer Skype calls without having to first unlock the device.
When you do unlock it, the device’s screen greets you with the colorful Live Tile interface of the Modern UI. Tiles can be rearranged by dragging the stylus, so we had to be careful not to touch the screen and accidentally mess up our layout.
Windows 8.1 brings back what looks like the Start button, but all this button does (after a regular click) is return you to the Live Tiles page. However, long-pressing the Start button brings up a list of options for Task Manager, Control Panel, File Explorer, Programs and Features, and more.
Performance
Click to EnlargePowered by a 1.33-GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3740 chip with 2GB of RAM, the Note 8 delivered so-so performance. We smoothly drew a beautiful watercolor painting on Fresh Paint while apps such as PowerDirector, YouCam and Gallery ran in the background. On the other hand, the camera stuttered between shots, taking a couple of seconds to show a thumbnail of our picture.
The tablet’s 32GB eMMC hard drive booted Windows 8 in 13 seconds, faster than the average slate (16 seconds) but slower than the Venue 8 and Iconia W4 (both 10 seconds). The VivoTab’s boot time is just shy of the Miix 2 (12 seconds).
On the synthetic test Geekbench 3, the VivoTab scored 2,608 to beat the average tablet (2,044) and the Venue 8 Pro (2,538). It was on a par with the Miix 2 (2,608) and the Iconia W4 (2,630). All systems have the same 1.33-GHz Intel Atom Z3740 CPU with 2GB of RAM.
The VivoTab’s PCMark 7 performance was underwhelming. Its score of 2,252 fell short of the average slate (2,862), the Venue 8 Pro (2,263), the Iconia W4 (2,499) and the Miix 2 (2,384).
Taking 21 minutes and 8 seconds to match 20,000 names to their addresses in our OpenOffice spreadsheet test, the VivoTab was slower than the average slate (16:16), the Miix 2 (20:22) and the Venue 8 Pro (20:36). The ASUS was a bit faster than the Iconia W4 (21:34).
With Intel HD Graphics, the VivoTab Note 8 performed well on the 3DMark Ice Storm Extreme graphics test, scoring 9,928 to beat the average slate (6,094), the Venue 8 Pro (8,830), the Iconia W4 (8,910) and the Miix 2 (9,739).
Apps
Click to EnlargeIn addition to the standard Windows apps, such as Internet Explorer, Skype, Bing and Xbox Music, ASUS offers a suite of media-editing tools to make your VivoTab Note 8 more useful. These include PowerDirector for editing video, PhotoDirector for your pictures and the YouCam camera app, which offers fun filters and effects.
PhotoDirector provides granular control over your pictures in a user-friendly interface. We easily adjusted brightness, darkness, exposure, contrast, saturation and white-balance levels in our picture of Manhattan’s skyline. A Skin tool lets you quickly retouch your portraits, so you can give yourself a digital makeover in seconds. You can also add frames and text bubbles, or create collages with your images on PhotoDirector for virtual scrapbooks.
MORE: Top 25 Windows 8 Apps
PowerDirector lets you turn your videos and photos into movie memories. You can trim your clips, and add effects, background music and titles. PowerDirector also lets you share your masterpieces on Facebook and YouTube.
ASUS additionally bundles the mobile messaging app Line with the VivoTab, so you can easily chat with friends. ASUS includes an activation code for the full Microsoft Home and Office Student 2013 edition (the non-subscription version). Third-party apps include Netflix and Amazon Kindle.
Camera and YouCam App
Click to EnlargeThe Note 8’s 5-megapixel rear camera is good in a pinch, but not something you’ll want to use to capture important moments. While details, such as edges of buildings, looked clear on our shots of midtown Manhattan’s skyline, the warm orange tones of the sunset reflecting off skyscrapers appeared pale. Our 720p video of the view from a 36th-story apartment showed the same clear details but underwhelming color.
The VivoTab’s front, 1.2-MP camera took grainy but accurately colored selfies. Our pink-and-blue patchwork shirt looked bright, but the picture showed significant noise.
Click to EnlargeIn addition to the built-in Microsoft Camera app, ASUS includes YouCam, which offers several extra features to make your photos and videos pop. The bottom of the viewfinder page hosts a toggle for photo/video, camera change, effects, red eye removal and settings.
Tapping the effects icon displays a submenu that lets you choose from Frames, Particles, Emotions, Draw or Distortion. Particles add a layer of animations or textures to your picture, while Emotions offer comic book-like stamps and animations. With Draw, you can doodle a message on the viewfinder, while distortion lends a funhouse-mirror touch to your images. You can adjust brightness, contrast, exposure, orientation, noise reduction and face tracking under Settings.
We especially enjoyed applying a bubble filter to a selfie and watching as numerous orbs with our face in them floated across the screen.
Battery Life
The VivoTab Note 8 comes with a 3,950-mAh (15-WHr) battery that delivered below-average endurance. On Laptop Mag’s battery test, which involves continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi, the VivoTab lasted 7 hours and 29 minutes. That’s a bit less runtime than the average tablet provides (7:47), but significantly behind the Dell Venue 8 (8:18), Acer Iconia W4 (8:25) and Lenvo Miix 2 (8:26).
MORE: 10 Tablets with the Longest Battery Life
Editor’s note: We’re in the process of normalizing the Laptop Mag battery test for 150 nits of brightness. The Venue 8, Iconia S4 and Miix 2 were benchmarked prior to this change.
Configurations and Accessories
Click to EnlargeOur unit of the VivoTab Note 8 packs 32GB of storage with a 1.33-GHZ quad-core Intel Atom Z3740 CPU and 2GB of RAM, all for $329. ASUS also offers a version with 64GB of storage for $369.
The company sells a $29 VersaSleeve folio that keeps your tablet protected and doubles as a stand. However, it’s not the most practical accessory. In order to use it as a stand, you must completely remove the tablet from the sleeve. It also took us quite a bit of finessing to figure out how to use the sleeve in stand form.
Verdict
Click to EnlargeDesigned for note taking, the ASUS VivoTab Note 8 delivers a natural, realistic drawing experience with an onboard Wacom stylus that sets it apart from competing Windows 8 slates. The device also comes with an array of fun, useful apps that will boost your creativity. Unfortunately, its below-average battery life and poorly placed Windows button diminish our enthusiasm for this tablet.
If you’re looking for a good mix of productivity and portability, Lenovo’s Miix 2 is our recommended 8-inch Windows 8 tablet, offering a brighter screen in a sleeker, lighter body, for just $215 on Amazon. But if you want a pen-enabled Windows tablet and can afford the premium, the VivoTab Note 8 delivers.
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ASUS VivoTab Note 8 Specs
| Brand | ASUS |
| CPU | 1.33-GHz quad-core Intel Atom BayTrail-T Z3740 |
| Camera Resolution | 5MP |
| Card Reader Size | 64GB |
| Card Readers | microSDXC |
| Company Website | http://www.asus.com/Tablets_Mobile/ASUS_VivoTab_Note_8_M80TA/ |
| Display Resolution | 1280 x 800 |
| Display Size | 8 |
| Front-Facing Camera Resolution | 1.2MP |
| Graphics Chip | Intel HD Graphics |
| Has Bluetooth | Yes |
| OS | Windows 8.1 |
| Ports | Microphone/Headphone, microUSB, microSDXC |
| RAM Included | 2GB |
| Size | 8.66 x 5.26 x 0.43 inches |
| Storage Drive Size | 32GB |
| USB Ports | 1 |
| Warranty / Support | 1-year International Warranty and 1-year accidental damage protection |
| Weight | 13.85 ounces |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n |
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Cherlynn joined the Laptopmag team in June 2013 and has since been writing about all things tech and digital with a focus on mobile and Internet software development. She also edits and reports occasionally on video. She graduated with a M.S. in Journalism (Broadcast) from Columbia University in May 2013 and has been designing personal websites since 2001.
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We love it when the rumor mill is right. After plenty of speculation and leaks courtesy of Amazon and Acer Russia, the first 8-inch tablet running a full version of Windows 8 has arrived in the form of the Acer Iconia W3. It’ll be available starting June 4 and comes with Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 pre-loaded.
What makes the Iconia W3 such a big deal? For starters, Acer has taken the attitude of “Screw Windows RT” and put a fully functional version of Windows 8 on this little tablet. This means it’ll run all of the legacy x86 applications that run on every other version of Windows. Acer paired the 8-inch tablet with an optional (grrr) Bluetooth keyboard/case that is about the same size as the one you would find on a 13.3-inch notebook, which means you’ll actually be able to type on it without scrunching your hands into awkward positions. However, if you need to type on the go, Acer has also made the virtual keyboard thumb-typing-friendly.
It’ll be available in 32GB and 64GB models, both of which include a microSD card slot will add up 32GB of additional space. A slim 0.45 inches thick, the Iconia W3 tips the scale at just 1.10 pounds. It’s not as thin or light as the iPad Mini, but it’s also housing a full operating system, so we’re willing to give it a pass – at least for this generation. It’s powered by an Intel Atom Z2760 mobile processor and is rated for up to 8 hours of battery life – though we’ll definitely be testing that in our full review.
The display on the Iconia W3 measures 8.1 inches and has a 1200 x 800 resolution. It’s not the retina-like or even the full HD display we were hoping for, but it’ll still give you plenty of pixels to work with. Like most tablets, the Iconia W3 includes 2-megapixel front and rear cameras. As far as connectivity, the tablet includes Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11b/g/n wireless, a micro-HDMI port, a microUSB port, and the aforementioned microSD card slot.
Acer tells us the Iconia W3’s MSRP will be $380, but that we’ll likely see it lower than that when presales begin in U.S. stores, such as Amazon, MicrosoftStore.com, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Walmart, and Microsoft retail stores on Tuesday, June 4.
Honestly, we’re not too bowled over by the specs on this tablet. It strikes us as a little heavy (the iPad mini weighs 0.68 pounds), a little low on pixels, and – assuming the price is accurate – a little pricey. However, the inclusion of Office Home & Student and the full version of Windows 8 certainly piques our interest. We can’t wait to get it in for review and see how it performs.
What do you think? Would you buy an 8-inch Windows 8 tablet?
Meghan J. McDonough is a Chicago-based purveyor of consumer technology and music. She previously wrote for LAPTOP Magazine…
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